Additional info for taking dogs to Spain
Guidelines for Dog Carriers
If you are flying to Spain with a dog, it is important that you use a dog carrier that is approved by your airline. Different airlines have different pet carrier policies, which often vary between aircrafts and routes. Check that your pet carrier is approved for your chosen airline, aircraft and route.
The rules and regulations have been set out by International Air Transport Association (IATA) ensure that dogs are comfortable when travelling. Thus, inside their travel carriers, dogs must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down in a natural position in their kennel (without touching any side or the top of the container).
The rules for pet carriers also vary depending on whether your dog will be flying in the cabin or cargo area of the plane.
If you are travelling in the cabin with your dog, then you will need to ensure that it fits under the seat in front of you. This is why only small dogs weighing under 7-8kg are permitted in the cabin.
Furthermore, airlines often require that your dog must be obedient to your commands and must behave appropriately in public. Thus, he mustn’t bark or growl at other passengers or staff. If your dog does not behave in an appropriate manner, some airlines may transfer him to the cargo hold at an additional cost, or refuse to transport him all together. Some airlines require a consent form to ensure your pet is flight-ready.
For a list of airlines that allow dogs to fly in the cabin with their owners, check 13 Airlines That Allow Flying With Dogs In-Cabin [2021 Prices & Policies].
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
What is a Spain Pet Passport?
A Spain Pet Passport is a compilation of documents that your dog needs in order to travel to Spain. With an EU Pet Passport, dogs are able to travel throughout the EU without enduring a quarantine period. Dogs will require a microchip and rabies vaccination at minimum, proof of both is needed in order to obtain an EU Pet Passport. All documents must be issued by an accredited veterinarian. Essentially, a pet passport demonstrates that your dog is fit and healthy to travel.
The documents required to travel with dogs depends on which country you are travelling from, and which country you are travelling to. Each country has individual rules and requirements to export and import dogs. We will discuss the requirements to travel with dogs to Spain in detail below.
What does an Spain Pet Passport contain?
A Spain Pet Passport, or EU Pet Passport contains all the documents required to travel with your dog. Essentially, it will prove that your dog is fit and healthy to travel and doesn’t pose as a health threat to other dogs.
A Spain Pet Passport contains the following information:
At minimum, your Spain pet passport will contain those listed 1-5. These are compulsory in order to travel within the EU with a dog. Those listed 6-8 are potential requirements that your dog may need, depending on where you are traveling from. For example, if you are traveling from outside the EU, from high-risk rabies countries, your dog may need a Rabies Blood Test (also known as Rabies Titer Test).
All records are signed and stamped by your official EU veterinarian with official stickers from the medication used.
Taking Brittany Ferries to Spain with Your Car
To skip on the long and expensive drive through France, you can instead take one of the ferries directly from the UK to Spain, run by Brittany Ferries. The available routes are from both Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander, plus Portsmouth to Bilbao, and return.
Sailings vary between 20 and 36 hours in length, depending on which ports you are sailing between. Note that sailings don’t run during most of November and December.
Unfortunately, this is not an option for people travelling to Spain with a dog but without their car. Foot passengers are not allowed to take dogs on any of the Brittany Ferry routes.
If you are taking your car, you can choose between pet-friendly cabins and kennels, depending on the ship. Most of the ships that sail with Brittany Ferries to Spain have pet-friendly cabins available, that can accommodate a single pet. However, they do usually book out very quickly.
There are also both small and large kennels, along with exercise areas. The exact number of cabins and set-up varies between each ship. For full details of what is available on each ship, to help you take a ferry to Spain with your dog, check out this guide.
The cost for taking a pet with Brittany ferries is £45 each direction. Note that a muzzle is required for all pets for their transfer between your car and either your cabin or the kennels, plus when visiting the exercise areas.
How to transport your pet to Spain from the UK after Brexit – top tips
Moving to Spain with your pet can be challenging as there’re many requirements, documentation, and the mode of transportation to consider depending on your departure country. As a pet parent, we know that you want what’s best for your furry friend. So to ease the whole process for you and your beloved (pet) child, we’ve created this guide.
The most common pets transported to Spain are dogs, cats, and ferrets (in this article, we’ll use the term pets interchangeably for these animals). Do you’ve other animals? Check with your local municipality about which animals are considered pets as each Autonomous Community (Comunidades Autónomas) has its own regulations.
Generally speaking, exotic animals, poisonous animals, reptiles, wild animals weighing over 2kgs, and adult mammals weighing over 10kgs are considered dangerous and not allowed as pets. In Andalusia, it’s strictly forbidden to own such animals as pets.
While all dogs are welcome in Spain, some breeds are considered potentially dangerous dogs (perros potencialmente peligrosas or PPP). If you’ve such a dog, you’ll need to get a license and register your dog at the local municipality within 1 month of your arrival in Spain.
Potentially dangerous or PPP dogs have the following characteristics– they’re muscular, have a strong character, short hair, large head, wide jaw, and weigh over 20 kgs. While the most common PPP breeds include Doberman, Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Rottweiler, Akita Inu, etc., it can also differ per Autonomous Community.